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The interest in the Arizona congressional delegation has been with the Democrats, particularly the three Democrats – Ron Barber, Ann Kirkpatrick and Kyrsten Sinema – in swing districts. Barber and Sinema have sided with Republicans on a large number of politically sensitive votes. Kirkpatrick less so, particularly regarding Obamacare.

The four Republican congressmen – Trent Franks, Paul Gosar, Matt Salmon and David Schweikert – are regarded as less interesting. Hard-right conservatives all. Four peas in a pod.

In recent weeks, however, there's been some illuminating splits in their votes.

The most curious was Schweikert's vote to repeal the use of force authorization adopted by Congress after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The amendment was, of course, defeated. Schweikert was one of just 27 Republicans to support it. All three of Arizona's swing Democrats voted against it.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the force resolution was legally equivalent to a declaration of war triggering the president's war-making power. For strict constructionists, its repeal would have left the president with no legal authority to undertake systemic military action against al-Qaida and its supporters and enablers.

Schweikert also voted against the reform of the National Security Agency's surveillance programs that made it to the floor of the House. Civil libertarians complained that the reforms were too weak. Gosar and Salmon joined Schweikert in voting against the bill for that reason. Franks, the national security hawk in the delegation, was the only Arizona Republican to vote in favor of it.

Gosar was one of just 13 Republicans to vote against the military budget. He was one of just 15 Republicans to vote to end the president's authority to indefinitely detain suspected terrorists at Guantanamo. Gosar and Salmon were two of 26 Republicans to vote against the intelligence budget.

Gosar, Salmon and Schweikert aren't orthodox Republican national security hawks, as these votes demonstrate. They have an uncharacteristic skepticism about military action and a more than mild civil libertarian streak.

Schweikert has the most pronounced civil libertarian streak, as illustrated by another vote. The House actually adopted an amendment to prohibit federal law-enforcement authorities from interfering with the medical marijuana regimens in states, such as Arizona, that have legalized it. Schweikert joined the Democrats in the Arizona delegation in voting for the amendment. Franks, Gosar and Salmon all voted against it.

When U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake was in the House, he was frequently one of just a handful of representatives voting against spending bills. His spirit lingers. Franks voted against the Commerce, Justice and Science budget. Salmon was one of just four votes against the budget for the Corps of Engineers.

The differences between the GOP members of Arizona's delegation would, of course, become even more interesting and meaningful if Sen. John McCain decided not to run for re-election in 2016, since all of them would presumably at least look at the race.

But even without that larger import, the differences are worth paying attention to. These are not four peas in a pod.

Reach Robb at robert.robb@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter at @RJRobb.